Much obliged is a Baby Boomer term used frequently on The Andy Griffith Show

Is "much obliged" a baby boomer phrase?

The Mayberry Band was the eighth episode of season three of The Andy Griffith Show. At least twice, Andy Taylor said, "Much Obliged." He uttered these two words often during the series' eight-year run from 1960 to 1968. If you are a baby boomer born between 1948 and 1964, you probably heard older relatives and neighbors say these words, and you may still use them yourself.

Today those of us born between 1954 and 1965 are supposed to be referred to as the Jones Generation but I will always consider myself a Boomer. Much obliged comes from the Spanish word obligato which derived from the Latin word obligo. It means to be thankful or feel obligated to someone because they did something nice for you.

Much obliged to Freddy Fleet

Andy was grateful, thankful, and much obliged to Freddy Fleet in The Mayberry Band episode. Fleet and his band members stopped in Mayberry as Mayor Stoner (Parley Edward Baer) decided the town council would not pay for the local band to play in a concert at the state capital because they were not good. Their rendition of Stars and Stripes Forever was awful.

Andy devised a plan by asking Fleet to allow his boys to sub for the local band and trick the mayor. Freddy refused until Andy said he could put them in jail and have their bus towed for illegal parking. Fleet laughed at how he had been bamboozled and agreed to the ruse.

Andy pulls a fast one

Freddy Fleet's band members dressed in uniforms and marched down the street beside the Mayberry band, playing Stars and Stripes Forever.

Hurrah for the flag of the free! May it wave as our standard forever, The gem of the land and the sea, The banner of the right. Let tyrants remember the day When our fathers with mighty endeavor Proclaimed as they marched to the fray That by their might and by their right It waves forever.

The hometown band only pretended to play instruments. Mayor Stoner was watching and heard Bobby Fleet's band play. Assuming his hometown band had improved, the mayor gave the OK to release the funds and was none the wiser. He did ask Andy if he had spotted a few new faces in the band.

Andy tricks Mayor Stoner

Fleet's guys quickly removed their uniforms, got in their vehicle, and left town. The Mayberry Band members boarded the bus to Richmond as Stoner watched. Stars and Stripes Forever was being played as the bus pulled off, and it sounded terrible.

With a look of shock on his face. Mayor Stoner ran towards the bus but could not stop it. The terrible-sounding Mayberry Band was heading to the Capital concert. As a side note: Throughout this episode, Barney Fife (Don Knotts) kept clashing his symbols, which was hilarious.

How often do you hear much obliged?

Young generations don't say much obliged, and you probably will not hear it if you are not around people over the age of 60. I grew up in Virginia, where those of my grandmother's age used this term often. We also said pop for soft drinks.

Since Andy Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show, who lived in North Carolina, also said pop, for a soda. I assumed this saying was a Southern term, but it is not.

I have had older men and women say "Much obliged" rather than "Thank you" when I held a door open for them. Take note of the next time you hear Andy Taylor or a Boomer say these two words. It might be more often than you realize.

If you are interested in some of the other quotes from Sheriff Taylor, click on this link